Fame at Last!

Who's 'Meanderthal Man' ....a BBC Weather Watcher!
(Ask Anthony)

This week's Caption pic

They didn't laugh at John's jokes...
and this is where they ended up..at the Pearly Gates!
The Angels of the North
Oh aye ! Don't think we'll bother with an angel on our Christmas tree this year then.

"All Angels! It's a girls singing group. They've dressed up strange today!"
"Panis Angelica" by Pavorotti    "Pain is Angels" by Meanderthals

The Crompton Trail - Bolton

This week's walk was a repeat of a walk we did about two years ago. It connects up some sites in and around Bolton, which are significant in the story of Samuel Crompton, the inventor of the 'spinning mule', which revolutionised the cotton industry in Britain.

Distance: 6.5 miles. Photos by Danny. Comments by Anthony.

Walker: Danny, Martin, Vic Paddy & Anthony. ( It seems the demands of Christmas shopping etc. had depleted our numbers this week.)

Setting off from the parked cars on the outskirts of  Bolton.
(Just checking with a 'local' that we are heading in the right direction.)

Our first point of interest was the 'Hall i' th' Wood' where Crompton was living with his parents at the time he developed the spinning mule.

Bradshaw Brook was in flood due to heavy over-night rain.

"We can't go that way.....

..................

...so we'd better go this way."

There has to be the obligatory 'bridge photograph'!

The Hall i' th' Wood was built in the 15th century.
The family lived here as tenant farmers and cotton weavers.
The hall is now a museum, open to the public twice a week....but not on Thursdays.

Heading towards the next venue.... Firswood Fold.

Crompton was born here at No.10 Firswood Fold
 in December 1753.
The cottages still retain many of the original features from Crompton's days.

(Shame about the cars)

No.10 where he was born

A good example of an 'A-frame' construction, typical of the time.

Time for coffee.

Back on the trail following Bradshaw Brook

'King Paddy' - immortalised in the graffiti! 

Back on the trail...

Crompton was honoured for his contribution to the cotton industry of Bolton with this statue of him in Nelson Square.
Inspite of his invention, Crompton died a pauper, as he failed to patent his invention.

Butty time..... for some. (Guess who left his butties at home.)

Anthony had to make do with a 'chip barm' from a nearby refreshment trailer.
(He did receive many generous offers of 'food aid'!)

This giant Snow Slide in Victoria Square was part of the
'Bolton Winter Festival'

This huge Ice Rink had also been constructed...

....and was being enjoyed(?) by some very young, local school children.

This week's Caption Pic

"Danny? Hercules? I don't think so!"
Danny's OK. He shouldn't be pilloried.
A crumbling old ruin and part of a building.
"I huffed and I puffed and I blew your house down!"
"Shut that door ! There's a draught. "
"My nose is itching!"

"Will someone come and help me please? 
My arms are getting tired!"

"No entry here. You'll have to go round the side!  ....... Any side will do!"
"Levitation starts in 5 seconds! Well Dynamo can do it, so why not"

"Hold on Danny, I think I know where the door is."

 In the canal at Burnley.

BURNLEY

THE HAPPY "WONDERERS"  6 Miles

WONDERERS :- Jim C, Vic, Danny, Paddy Mick
                             John R, Anthony,  Frank, John W.

Soon after ten O'clock we pulled into the Car Park of Burnley F.C.'s Turf Moor stadium. Waiting for us were John R and Jim C.  The bitingly cold wind encouraged us to "Tog Up" quickly and be on our way.

Out of the car park and a right turn into a busy street where ahead of us , in the distance, could be seen the aqueduct   carrying the canal over the town.  Underneath it and a short distance along the road and we were climbing the bank up to the canal.

Unsurprisingly, under the icy blue skies. a thin film of ice covered the waters of the canal. 

We had joined the canal part way along the "Straight Mile" which is definitely straight but hardly a mile. It wasn't long before the canal began to twist and turn as it made it's way  through the town's built up area.

Soon after this we arrived at the rather splendid group of buildings which form the heart of the "Weavers Triangle" a conservation project supported by Prince Charles.

Here we opted to stop for coffee, sheltering as we drank in the lee of the sadly closed waterside pub.

 This furtive looking bunch look like the cast of extras in a period crime drama.

 Yes. Definitely a suspicious looking bunch.

The bright sunshine failed miserably in it's attempts to warm the day but  "Fresh and Healthy" was the consensus.  It wasn't difficult to imagine the hustle and bustle of this once prospering part of Burnley and the quayside "furniture" told it's own story.

 Further along the canal more of the handsome buildings revealed themselves including this incredible terrace of houses. (?)

Just a few more bends of the canal and a notice told us we were no longer wanted. Oh Dear ! I jest of course. The canal was closed as the railway bridge ahead of us was under repair.  

This was to lead to some confusion. We had to leave the planned route and take what ought to have been a SHORT diversion. John's map showed a bridge across the motorway just a short distance away. A passing local told us that we needed to walk some distance beyond this before crossing the motorway and coming back along the other side. John checked the map again and expressed doubts about this.  Other voices, however,  joined in offering advice.   John was foolish enough to listen. 50 minutes later we arrived at the other side of the short bridge we should have crossed in the first place. 

John said  " #*##** ! **#"''# ! " ... and worse. He later apologised sincerely.

 Here we are with no idea where we are going and 

 ....similarly we have no idea what this sculpture was about.

As you can see from the above photo we eventually got back on track though not before we receive directions from three delightfully helpful young Asian ladies. 

 They were so eager to help that they all talked at once at great speed. They did offer one piece of good advice though.
"There's a river ahead. "Don't jump into it . "...........  Eh ?

Heads down and onwards now. Through the town and past the Station (railway) into a park WITH SEATS. 

Lunchtime.

Within the park there were a number of venerable old trees.

Y ?

 The fabulous texture of it's bark is why.

After a comfortable, though, increasingly chilly lunch we struggled to cross a road busy with speeding traffic. Once across we entered Thompson Park.

A lovely little park but the increasing gloom and chill of this winter afternoon meant that we hurried through it.

A gate at the top end  of the park took us back onto the canal towpath where we were greeted by a passing narrow boat

 which was crunching, icebreaker like, through the thin, frozen, surface layer.

"Where did you get that hat ?

 Where did you get that tile ?

Isn't it a nobby one

And just the proper style. "

NO !

 Just around the next bend was the other end of the straight mile. We were soon along it and dropping down to the streets below and back to Turf Moor and the cars. Not, however, before pausing to admire the beautiful tracery of this old but elegant Silver Birch along the towpath.

Our adventures were not quite over. We so admired the intricacy of the local highway roundabouts that we travelled round each one at least twice before settling on our desired exit ..... (lost again !!!!)

And so to home in the still bright setting sun.

THE END

p.s.  "Happy Wonderers"  ?

As the Meanderthals wander abroad we often WONDER

                   Where are we ?

                   What are we doing here ?

                   Why did we come ?

Today was no exception !